Roadway Safety with a View: The Inlet Beach Underpass

Last autumn, the Inlet Beach community celebrated the opening of a new pedestrian underpass. Situated at the intersection of Highway 98 and County Highway 30A, this walking tunnel provides easy 30A beach access without crossing traffic, keeping cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists safe. And the new Inlet Beach Underpass does more than keep people safe – it promotes public art in South Walton.

Walton County Tourism and the Cultural Arts Alliance collaborated on this South Walton pedestrian safety project, selecting 10 local artists to create murals in their own unique styles. Their ten distinctive works of art now line the walls of the underpass. 

“The theme of the murals was connectivity, and we wanted the murals to be inspired by the artists’ connectivity to the landscape, to the built environment, and obviously our connections with each other,” Jennifer Steele, president & CEO of the CAA, explained.

These giant 20-by-8-foot underpass art murals transform the Highway 98 safety feature into a public art gallery spotlighting local talent. The tunnel walkway features work by Francisco Adaro, Katherine Boggs, Heather Clements, Bradley Copeland, Olga Guy, Wes Hinds, Sarah Page, Andy Saczynski, Andrea Scurto, and Lindsay Tobias, bringing together artists from throughout the South Walton art scene.

This Inlet Beach Underpass community art initiative illustrates that vacation safety improvements can be beautiful and functional, capturing the creative essence of Walton County while enhancing the visitor experience.

“Art has the power to transform spaces and inspire communities,” Leigh Moore, executive director of Scenic Walton, said of the Inlet Beach murals. “Not only does it make it more beautiful and a much more enriching experience to go through the underpass, but it will also encourage people to use it. And that’s a lifesaving issue.”

This groundbreaking project has been in the works for nearly a decade, but the increasing number of pedestrians prompted the Florida Department of Transportation to fast-track its development.

The underpass scenic walkway is also home to two brand-new sculptures, adding even more dimension to the space. Replicated from popular pieces in the Underwater Museum of Art, “The Grayt Pineapple” by Rachel Herring McCord adorns the north end of the underpass and “Common Chord” by Vince Tatum marks the south end.

Discover the details and explore what makes this project a win for both public art and public safety in South Walton. Visit waltoncountyfltourism.com/press/underpass-marks-milestone-in-safety-accessibility/ to learn more!